What’s happening in health in Rhode Island, March 21:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Lifespan plan to collaborate on cancer treatment and research. The idea is to expand access to clinical trials, offer access for Lifespan physicians to more specific expertise for complex cases, and create a program to coordinate the treatment of bone marrow transplant patients. A top priority of Dana-Farber and Lifespan Cancer Institute’s work together is to offer the latest and most advanced clinical trials to patients in Rhode Island. While many of these trials will be developed at and provided by Dana-Farber, there will also be opportunities for clinical trials developed at the Lifespan Cancer Institute to be offered to Dana-Farber patients. Increasing access to diverse patient populations is a common research goal to help accelerate the development of new therapies.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has pledged to help increase colorectal cancer screening rates by 80% by 2018 as part of a national initiative aimed at adults 50 and older. The company says that while colorectal cancer incidence rates have dropped 30 percent nationally over the last 10 years, the disease is still the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Screening can help find hidden growths – called “polyps” – before they become cancerous.
The RI House and Senate Finance Committees continue to hear testimony about Rhode Island’s 2018 budget for all things health-related – including the proposal for the Dept. of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals, Medicaid, and the Dept. of Health. You can keep up with the calendar here and here.
